be all friends then Constable Well said mistris Dorothy ifaith Harp Thou art the madst priest that euer I met with Wroth. Giue me thy hand thou art as good a fellow I am a singer a drinker a bencher a wencher I can say a masse and kisse a lasse faith I haue a parsonage and bicause I would not be at too much charges this wench serues me for a sexton Harp Well said mad priest wee le in and be friends exeunt Enter sir Roger Acton master Bourne master Beuerley and William Murley the brewer of Dunstable Acton Now maister Murley I am well assurde You know our arrant and do like the cause Being a man affected as we are Mu. Mary God dild ye daintie my deere no master good Sr Roger Acton Knight maister Bourne and maister Beuerley esquires gentlemen and iustices of the peace no maister I but plaine William Murly the brewer of Dunstable your honest neighbour and your friend if ye be men of my profession Beuerley Professed friends to Wickliffe foes to Rome Murl. Hold by me lad leane vpon that staffe good maister Beuerley all of a house say your mind say your mind Acton You know our faction now is growne so great Throughout the realme that it beginnes to smoake Into the Cleargies eies and the Kings eares High time it is that we were drawne to head Our generall and officers appoynted And warres ye wot will aske great store of coine Able to strength our action with your purse You are elected for a colonell Ouer a regiment of fifteene bands Murley Fue paltrie paltrie in and out to and fro be it more or lesse vppon occasion Lorde haue mercie vppon vs what a world is this Sir Roger Acton I am but a Dunstable man a plaine brewer ye know will lusty Caualiering captaines gentlemen come at my calling goe at my bidding Daintie my deere thei le doe a dogge of waxe a horse of cheese a pricke and a pudding no no ye must appoint some lord or knight at least to that place Bourne Why master Murley you shall be a Knight Were you not in election to be shrieue Haue ye not past all offices but that Haue ye not wealth to make your wife a lady I warrant you my lord our Generall Bestowes that honor on you at first sight Murley Mary God dild ye daintie my deare But tell me who shal be our Generall Where 's the lord Cobham sir Iohn Old-castle That noble almes-giuer housekeeper vertuous Religious gentleman Come to me there boies Come to me there Acton Why who but he shall be our Generall Murley And shall he knight me and make me colonell Acton My word for that sir William Murley knight Murley Fellow sir Roger Acton knight all fellowes I meane in armes how strong are we how many partners our enemies beside the King are mightie be it more or lesse vpon occasion reckon our force Acton There are of vs our friends and followers Three thousand and three hundred at the least Of northerne lads foure thousand beside horse From Kent there comes with sir Iohn Old-castle Seauen thousand then from London issue out Of maisters seruants strangers prentices Fortie odde thousands into Ficket field Where we appoynt our speciall randeuous Murley Fue paltry paltry in and out to and fro Lord haue mercie vpon vs what a world is this where 's that Ficket fielde sir Roger Acton Behinde saint Giles in the field neere Holborne Murley Newgate vp Holborne S. Giles in the field and to Tiborne an old saw for the day for the day Acton On friday next the foureteenth day of Ianuary Murley Tyllie vallie trust me neuer if I haue any liking of that day fue paltry paltry friday quoth a dismall day Childermasse day this yeare was friday Beuerley Nay maister Murley if you obserue such daies We make some question of your constancie All daies are like to men resolu'de in right Murley Say Amen and say no more but say and hold master Beuerley friday next and Ficket field and William Murley and his merry men shal be al one I haue halfe a score iades that draw my beere cartes and euery iade shall beare a knaue and euery knaue shall weare a iacke and euery iacke shal haue a scull and euery scull shal shew a speare and euery speare shal kill a foe at Ficket field at Ficket field Iohn and Tom and Dicke and Hodge and Rafe and Robin William George and all my knaues shall fight like men at Ficket field on friday next Bourne What summe of money meane you to disburse Murley It may be modestly decently soberly and handsomely I may bring fiue hundreth pound Acton Fiue hundreth man fiue thousand 's not enough A hundreth thousand will not pay our men Two months together either come preparde Like a braue Knight and martiall Colonell In glittering golde and gallant furniture Bringing in coyne a cart loade at the least And all your followers mounted on good horse Or neuer come disgracefull to vs all Beuerley Perchance you may be chosen Treasurer Tenne thousand pounds the least that you can bring Murley Paltry paltry in and out and fro vpon I haue ten thousand pound to spend and tenne too And rather than the Bishop shall haue his will of mee for my conscience it shall out all Flame and flaxe flame and flaxe it was gotte with water and mault and it shal flie with fire and gunne powder Sir Roger a cart loade of mony til the axetree cracke my selfe and my men in Ficket field on friday next remember my Knighthoode and my place there 's my hand I le bee there Exit Acton See what Ambition may perswade men to In hope of honor he will spend himselfe Bourne I neuer thought a Brewer halfe so rich Beuerley Was neuer bankerout Brewer yet but one With vsing too much mault too little water Acton That 's no fault in Brewers now-adayes Come away about our businesse exeunt Enter K. Harry Suffolke Butler and Old-castle kneeling to the King Harry T is not enough Lord Cobham to submit You must forsake your grosse opinion The Bishops find themselues much iniured And though for some good seruice you haue done We for our part are pleasde to pardon you Yet they will not so soone be satisfied Cobham My gracious Lord vnto your Maiestie Next vnto my God I owe my life And what is mine either by natures gift Or fortunes bountie al is at your seruice But for obedience to the Pope of Rome I owe him none nor shall his shaueling priests That are in England alter my beliefe If out of holy Scripture they can proue That I am in an errour I will yeeld And gladly take instruction at their hands But otherwise I do beseech your grace My conscience may not be incroacht vpon Har. We would be loath to presse our subiects bodies Much lesse their soules the deere redeemed part Of him that is the ruler of vs all Yet let me counsell ye that might command
You maister Sherife vnto your shire and you As Iustices in euery ones precinct There be no meetings When the vulgar sort Sit on their Ale-bench with their cups and kannes Matters of state be not their common talke Nor pure religion by their lips prophande Let vs returne vnto the Bench againe And there examine further of this fray Enter a Baily and a Serieant Sher. Sirs haue ye taken the lord Powesse yet Ba. No nor heard of him Ser. No hee 's gone farre enough 2. Iu. They that are left behind shall answer all Exeunt Enter Suffolke Bishop of Rochester Butler parson of Wrotham Suffolke Now my lord Bishop take free liberty To speake your minde what is your sute to vs Bishop My noble Lord no more than what you know And haue bin oftentimes inuested with Grieuous complaints haue past betweene the lippes Of enuious persons to vpbraide the Cleargy Some carping at the liuings which we haue And others spurning at the ceremonies That are of auncient custome in the church Amongst the which Lord Cobham is a chiefe What inconuenience may proceede hereof Both to the King and to the common wealth May easily be discernd when like a frensie This innouation shall possesse their mindes These vpstarts will haue followers to vphold Their damnd opinion more than Harry shall To vndergoe his quarrell gainst the French Suffolke What proofe is there against them to be had That what you say the law may iustifie Bishop They giue themselues the name of Protestants And meete in fields and solitary groues sir Ihon Was euer heard my Lord the like til now That theeues and rebells sbloud heretikes Playne heretikes I le stand toote to their teeth Should haue to colour their vile practises A title of such worth as Protestant enter one wyth a letter Suf. O but you must not sweare it ill becomes One of your coate to rappe out bloudy oathes Bish. Pardon him good my Lord it is his zeale An honest country prelate who laments To see such foule disorder in the church Sir Iohn There 's one they call him Sir Iohn Old-castle He has not his name for naught for like a castle Doth he encompasse them within his walls But till that castle be subuerted quite We ne're shall be at quiet in the realme Bish. That is our sute my Lord that he be tane And brought in question for his heresie Beside two letters brought me out of Wales Wherin my Lord Herford writes to me What tumult and sedition was begun About the Lord Cobham at the Sises there For they had much ado to calme the rage And that the valiant Herbert is there slaine Suf. A fire that must be quencht wel say no more The King anon goes to the counsell chamber There to debate of matters touching France As he doth passe by I le informe his grace Concerning your petition Master Butler If I forget do you remember me But. I will my Lord Offer him a purse Bish. Not for a recompence But as a token of our loue to you By me my Lords of the cleargie do present This purse and in it full a thousand Angells Praying your Lordship to accept their gift Suf. I thanke them my Lord Bishop for their loue But will not take their mony if you please To giue it to this gentleman you may Bish. Sir then we craue your furtherance herein But. The best I can my Lord of Rochester Bish. Nay pray ye take it trust me but you shal sir Iohn Were ye all three vpon New Market heath You should not neede straine curtsie who should ha'te Sir Iohn would quickely rid ye of that care Suf The King is comming feare ye not my Lord The very first thing I will breake with him Shal be about your matter Enter K. Harry and Huntington in talke Har. My Lord of Suffolke Was it not saide the Cleargy did refuse To lend vs mony toward our warres in France Suf. It was my Lord but very wrongfully Har. I know it was for Huntington here tells me They haue bin very bountifull of late Suf. And still they vow my gracious Lord to be so Hoping your maiestie will thinke of them As of your louing subiects and suppresse All such malitious errors as begin To spot their calling and disturb the church Har. God else forbid why Suffolke is there Any new rupture to disquiet them Suf. No new my Lord the old is great enough And so increasing as if not cut downe Will breede a scandale to your royall state And set your Kingdome quickely in an vproare The Kentish knight Lord Cobham in despight Of any law or spirituall discipline Maintaines this vpstart new religion still And diuers great assemblies by his meanes And priuate quarrells are commenst abroad As by this letter more at large my liege Is made apparant Har. We do find it here There was in Wales a certaine fray of late Betweene two noblemen but what of this Followes it straight Lord Cobham must be he Did cause the same I dare be sworne good knight He neuer dreampt of any such contention Bish. But in his name the quarrell did begin About the opinion which he held my hege Har. How if it did was either he in place To take part with them or abette them in it If brabling fellowes whose in kindled bloud Seethes in their fiery vaines will needes go fight Making their quarrells of some words that passt Either of you or you amongst their cuppes Is the fault yours or are they guiltie of it Suffolke With pardon of your Highnesse my dread lord Such little sparkes neglected may in time Grow to a mighty flame but that 's not all He doth beside maintaine a strange religion And will not be compelld to come to masse Bish. We do beseech you therefore gracious prince Without offence vnto your maiesty We may be bold to vse authoritie Harry As how Bishop To summon him vnto the Arches Where such offences haue their punishment Harry To answere personally is that your meaning Bishop It is my lord Harry How if he appeale Bishop He cannot my Lord in such a case as this Suffolke Not where Religion is the plea my lord Harry I tooke it alwayes that our selfe stoode out As a sufficient refuge vnto whome Not any but might lawfully appeale But wee le not argue now vpon that poynt For sir Iohn Old-castle whom you accuse Let me intreate you to dispence awhile With your high title of preheminence in scorne Report did neuer yet condemne him so But he hath alwayes beene reputed loyall And in my knowledge I can say thus much That he is vertuous wise and honourable If any way his conscience be seduc'de To wauer in his faith I le send for him And schoole him priuately if that serue not Then afterward you may proceede against him Butler be you the messenger for vs And will him presently repaire to court exeunt sir Iohn How now my lord why stand you discontent In sooth me thinkes the
hitherward Har. Let vs withdraw my Lords prepare our troopes To charge the rebels if there be such cause For this lawd priest this diuellish hypocrite That is a thiefe a gamster and what not Let him be hang'd vp for example sake sir Iohn Not so my gracious soueraigne I confesse I am a frayle man flesh and bloud as other are but set my imperfections aside by this light ye haue not a taller man nor a truer subiect to the Crowne and State than Sir Iohn of VVrootham Har. Wil a true subiect robbe his King sir Iohn Alas t was ignorance and want my gracious liege Har. T was want of grace why you should be as salt To season others with good document Your liues as lampes to giue the people light As shepheards not as wolues to spoile the flock Go hang hm Butler But. Didst thou not rob me sir Iohn I must confesse I saw some of your gold but my dread Lord I am in no humor for death therfore saue my life God will that sinners liue do not you cause me die once in their liues the best may goe astray and if the world say true your selfe my liege haue bin a thiefe Har. I confesse I haue But I repent and haue reclaimd my selfe sir Iohn So will I do if you will giue me time Har. Wilt thou my lords will you be his suerties Hunt That when he robs againe he shall be hang'd sir Iohn I aske no more Har. And we will grant thee that Liue and repent and proue an honest man Which when I heare and safe returne from France I le giue thee liuing till when take thy gold But spend it better then at cards or wine For better vertues fit that coate of thine sir Iohn Viuat Rex currat lex my liege if ye haue cause of battell ye shal see sir Iohn of Wrootham bestirre himselfe in your quarrel exeunt After an alarum enter Harry Suffolk Huntington sir Iohn bringing forth Acton Beuerly and Murley prisoners Har. Bring in those traitors whose aspiring minds Thought to haue triumpht in our ouerthrow But now ye see base villaines what successe Attends ill actions wrongfully attempted Sir Roger Acton thou retainst the name Of knight and shouldst be more discreetly temperd Than ioyne with peasants gentry is diuine But thou hast made it more then popular Act. Pardon my Lord my conscience vrg'd me to it Har. Thy conscience then thy conscience is corrupt For in thy conscience thou art bound to vs And in thy conscience thou shouldst loue thy country Else what 's the difference twixt a Christian And the vnciuil manners of the Turke Beuer. We meant no hurt vnto your maiesty But reformation of Religion Har. Reforme Religion was it that ye sought I pray who gaue you that authority Belike then we do hold the scepter vp And sit within the throne but for a cipher Time was good subiects would make knowne their griefe And pray amendment not inforce the same Vnlesse their King were tyrant which I hope You cannot iustly say that Harry is What is that other Suff. A mault-man my Lord And dwelling in Dunstable as he saies Har. Sirra what made you leaue your barly broth To come in armour thus against your King Mur. Fie paltry paltry to and fro in and out vpon occasion what a worlde 's this knight-hood my liege t was knighthood brought me hither they told me I had wealth enough to make my wife a lady Har. And so you brought those horses which we saw Trapt all in costly furniture and meant To weare these spurs when you were knighted once Mur. In and out vpon occasion I did Har. In and out vppon occasion therefore you shall be hang'd and in the sted of wearing these spurres vpon your heeles about your necke they shall bewray your folly to the world sir Iohn In and out vpon ocasion that goes hard Mur Fic paltry paltry to and fro good my liege a pardon I am sory for my fault Har. That comes too late but tell me went there none Beside sir Roger Acton vpon whom You did depend to be your gouernour Mar. None none my Lord but sir Iohn Old-castle Har. Beares he part in this conspiracie enter Bishop Act. We lookt my Lord that he would meet vs here Har. But did he promise you that he would come Act. Such letters we receiued forth of Kent Bish. Where is my Lord the King health to your grace Examining my Lord some of these caitiue rebels It is a generall voyce amongst them all That they had neuer come vnto this place But to haue met their valiant general The good Lord Cobham as they title him Whereby my Lord your grace may now perceiue His treason is apparant which before He sought to colour by his flattery Har. Now by my roialtie I would haue sworne But for his conscience which I beare withall There had not liude a more true hearted subiect Bish. It is but counterfeit my gracious lords And therefore may it please your maiestie To set your hand vnto this precept here By which wee l cause him forthwith to appeare And answer this by order of the law Har. Bishop not only that but take commission To search attach imprison and condemne This most notorious traitor as you please Bish. It shall be done my Lord without delay So now I hold Lord Cobham in my hand That which shall finish thy disdained life Har. I thinke the yron age begins but now Which learned poets haue so often taught Wherein there is no credit to be giuen To either wordes or lookes or solemne oathes For if there were how often hath he sworne How gently tun'de the musicke of his tongue And with what amiable face beheld he me When all God knowes was but hypocrisie enter Cobham Cob. Long life and prosperous raigne vnto my Lord Har. Ah villaine canst thou wish prosperitie Whose heart includeth naught but treacherie I do arrest thee here my selfe false knight Of treason capitall against the state Cob. Of treason mightie prince your grace mistakes I hope it is but in the way of mirth Har. Thy necke shall feele it is in earnest shortly Darst thou intrude into our presence knowing How haynously thou hast offended vs But this is thy accustomed deceit Now thou perceiust thy purpose is in vaine With some excuse or other thou wilt come To cleere thy selfe of this rebellion Cob. Rebellion good my Lord I know of none Har. If you deny it here is euidence See you these men you neuer councelled Nor offerd them assistance in their warres Cob. Speake sirs not one but all I craue no fauour Haue euer I beene conuersant with you Or written letters to incourage you Or kindled but the least or smallest part Of this your late vnnaturall rebellion Speake for I dare the vttermost you can Mur, In and out vpon occasion I know you not Har. No didst not say that sir Iohn Old-castle Was one with whom you purposde to haue met
Mur. True I did say so but in what respect Because I heard it was reported so Har. Was there no other argument but that Act. To cleere my conscience ere I die my lord I must confesse we haue no other ground But only Rumor to accuse this lord Which now I see was merely fabulous Har. The more pernitious you to taint him then Whome you knew not was faulty yea or no Cobh. Let this my Lord which I present your grace Speake for my loyalty reade these articles And then giue sentence of my life or death Har. Earle Cambridge Scroope and Gray corrupted With bribes from Charles of France either to winne My Crowne from me or secretly contriue My death by treason Is this possible Cobh. There is the platforme and their hands my lord Each seuerally subscribed to the same Har. Oh neuer heard of base ingratitude Euen those I hugge within my bosome most Are readiest euermore to sting my heart Pardon me Cobham I haue done thee wrong Heereafter I will liue to make amends Is then their time of meeting so neere hand Wee le meete with them but little for their ease If God permit goe take these rebells hence Let them haue martiall law but as for thee Friend to thy king and country still be free Exeunt Murl. Be it more or lesse what a world is this Would I had continued still of the order of knaues And neuer sought knighthood since it costes So deere sir Roger I may thanke you for all Acton Now t is too late to haue it remedied I prithee Murley doe not vrge me with it Hunt Will you away and make no more to do Murl. Fy paltry paltry to and fro as occasion serues If you be so hasty take my place Hunt No good sir knight you shall begin in your hand Murl. I could be glad to giue my betters place Exeunt Enter Bishop lord Warden Croamer the Shrieue Lady Cob and attendants Bishop I tell ye Lady it s not possible But you should know where he conueies himselfe And you haue hid him in some secret place Lady My Lord beleeue me as I haue a soule I know not where my lord my husband is Bishop Go to go to ye are an heretike And will be forc'de by torture to confesse If faire meanes will not serue to make ye tell Lady My husband is a noble gentleman And neede not hide himselfe for anie fact That ere I heard of therefore wrong him not Bishop Your husband is a dangerous schismaticke Traitor to God the King and common wealth And therefore master Croamer shrieue of Kent I charge you take her to your custodie And ceaze the goods of Sir John Old-castle To the Kings vse let her go in no more To fetch so much as her apparell out There is your warrant from his maiestie L. War Good my Lord Bishop pacifie your wrath Against the Lady Bish. Then let her confesse Where Old-castle her husband is conceald L. War I dare engage mine honor and my life Poore gentlewoman she is ignorant And innocent of all his practises If any euill by him be practised Bish. If my Lord Warden nay then I charge you That all the cinque Ports whereof you are chiefe Be laid forthwith that he escape vs not Shew him his highnesse warrant M. Shrieue L. War I am sorie for the noble gentleman Enter Old-castle Harp Bish. Peace he comes here now do your office Old-castle Harpoole what businesse haue we here in hand VVhat makes the Bishop and the Sheriffe here I feare my comming home is dangerous I would I had not made such haste to Cobham Harp Be of good cheere my Lord if they be foes wee le scramble shrewdly with them if they be friends they are welcome one of them my Lord Warden is your friend but me thinkes my ladie weepes I like not that Croo. Sir Iohn Old-castle Lord Cobham in the Kings maiesties name I arrest ye of high treason Oldca. Treason M. Croomes Harp Treason M. Shrieue sbloud what treason Oldca. Harpoole I charge thee stirre not but be quiet still Do ye arrest me M. Shrieue for treason Bish. Yea of high treason traitor heretike Oldca. Defiance in his face that calls me so I am as true a loyall gentleman Vnto his highnesse as my prowdest enemie The King shall witnesse my late faithfull seruice For safety of his sacred maiestie Bish. VVhat thou art the kings hand shall testifie She wt him Lord Warden Old Iesu defend me Is 't possible your cunning could so temper The princely disposition of his mind To signe the damage of a royall subiect Well the best is it beares an ancedate Procured by my absence and your malice But I since that haue shewd my selfe as true As any churchman that dare challenge me Let me be brought before his maiestie If he acquite me not then do your worst Bish. We are not bound to do kind offices For any traitor schismatike nor heretike The kings hand is our warrant for our worke Who is departed on his way for France And at Southhampton doth repose this night Harp O that it were the blessed will of God that thou and I were within twenty mile of it on Salisbury plaine I would lose my head if euer thou broughtst thy head hither againe aside Oldca. My Lord Warden o' th cinque Ports my Lord of Rochester ye are ioynt Commissioners fauor me so much On my expence to bring me to the king Bish. What to Southhampton Oldca. Thither my god Lord And if he do not cleere me of al guilt And all suspition of conspiracie Pawning his princely warrant for my truth I aske no fauour but extreamest torture Bring me or send me to him good my Lord Good my Lord Warden M Shrieue entreate Here the Lord Warden and Cromer vncouer to the Bishop and secretly whispers with him Come hither lady nay sweet wife forbeare To heape one sorrow on anothers necke T is griefe enough falsly to be accusde And not permitted to acquite my selfe Do not thou with thy kind respectiue teares Torment thy husbands heart that bleedes for thee But be of comfort God hath help in store For those that put assured trust in him Deere wife if they commit me to the Tower Come vp to London to your sisters house That being neere me you may comfort me One solace find I setled in my soule That I am free from treasons very thought Only my conscience for the Gospels sake Is cause of all the troubles I sustaine Lady O my deere Lord what shall betide of vs You to the Tower and I turnd out of doores Our substance ceaz'd vnto his highnesse vse Euen to the garments longing to our backes Harp Patience good madame things at worst will mend And if they doe not yet our liues may end Bish. Vrge it no more for if an Angell spake I sweare by sweet saint Peters blessed keyes First goes he to the Tower then to the stake Crom. But by your leaue
in your hands Is not this cloth an argument beside Thus staind and spotted with his innocent blood These speaking characters were nothing else To pleade against ye would conuict you both Bring them away bereauers of my ioy At Hartford where the Sises now are kept Their liues shall answere for my sonnes lost life Old castle As we are innocent so may we speede Lee As I am wrongd so may the law proceede exeunt Enter bishop of Rochester constable of S. Albons with sir Iohn of Wrotham Doll his wench and the Irishman in Harpooles apparell Bishop What intricate confusion haue we heere Not two houres since we apprehended one In habite Irish but in speech not so And now you bring another that in speech Is altogether Irish but in habite Seemes to be English yea and more than so The seruant of that heretike Lord Cobham Irishman Fait me be no seruant of the lord Cobhams Me be Mack Chane of Vlster Bishop Otherwise calld Harpoole of Kent go to sit You cannot blinde vs with your broken Irish sir Iohn Trust me my Lord Bishop whether Irish Or English Harpoole or not Harpoole that I leaue to be decided by the triall But sure I am this man by face and speech Is he that murdred yong sir Richard Lee I met him presently vpon the fact And that he slew his maister for that gold Those iewells and that chaine I tooke from him Bishop Well our affaires doe call vs backe to London So that we cannot prosecute the cause As we desire to do therefore we leaue The charge with you to see they be conuaide To Hartford Sise both this counterfaite And you sir Iohn of Wrotham and your wench For you are culpable as well as they Though not for murder yet for felony But since you are the meanes to bring to light This gracelesse murder you shall beare with you Our letters to the Iudges of the bench To be your friendes in what they lawfull may sir Iohn I thanke your Lordship Bish. So away with them exeunt Enter Gaoler and his man bringing forth Old castle Gaoler Bring forth the prisoners see the court preparde The Iustices are comming to the bench So let him stand away and fetch the rest exeunt Old Oh giue me patience to indure this scourge Thou that art fountaine of that vertuous streame And though contempt false witnes and reproch Hang on these yron gyues to presse my life As low as earth yet strengthen me with faith That I may mount in spirite aboue the cloudes Enter Gaoler bringing in Lady Old-castle and Harpoole Here comes my lady sorow t is for her Thy wound is greeuous else I scoffe at thee What and poore Harpoole art thou i th bryars too Harp I faith my Lord I am in get out how I can Lady Say gentle Lord for now we are alone And may conferre shall we confesse in briefe Of whence and what we are and so preuent The accusation is commencde against vs Old What will that helpe vs being knowne sweete loue VVe shall for heresie be put to death For so they tearme the religion we professe No if it be ordained we must die And at this instant this our comfort be That of the guilt imposde our soules are free Harp Yea yea my lord Harpoole is so resolude I wreake of death the lesse in that I die Not by the sentence of that enuious priest The Bishop of Rochester oh were it he Or by his meanes that I should suffer here It would be double torment to my soule Lady VVell be it then according as heauen please Enter lord Iudge two Iustices Maior of Saint Albons lord Powesse and his lady and old sir Richard Lee the Iudge and Iustices take their places Iudge Now M. Maior what gentleman is that You bring with you before vs and the bench Maior The Lord Powes if it like your honor And this his Lady trauelling toward Wales Who for they lodgde last night within my house And my Lord Bishop did lay search for such Were very willing to come on with me Lest for their sakes suspition we might wrong Iudge We crie your honor mercy good my Lord Wil t please ye take your place madame your ladyship May here or where you will repose your selfe Vntill this businesse now in hand be past Lady Po. I will withdraw into some other roome So that your Lordship and the rest be pleasde Iudge With all our hearts attend the Lady there Lord Po. Wife I haue eyde yond prisoners all this while And my conceit doth tel me t is our friend The noble Cobham and his vertuous Lady Lady Po. I thinke no lesse are they suspected trow ye For doing of this murder Lord Po. What it meanes I cannot tell but we shall know anon Meane space as you passe by them ask the question But do it secretly you be not seene And make some signe that I may know your mind Lady Po. My Lord Cobham madam as she passeth ouer the stage by thē Old No Cobhā now nor madam as you loue vs But Iohn of Lancashire and Ione his wife Lady Po. Oh tel what is it that our loue can do To pleasure you for we are bound to you Oldca. Nothing but this that you conceale our names So gentle lady passe for being spied Lady Po. My heart I leaue to beare part of your griefe exit Iudge Call the prisoners to the barre sir Richard Lee What euidence can you bring against these people To proue them guiltie of the murder done Lee. This bloudy towell and these naked kniues Beside we found them sitting by the place Where the dead body lay within a bush Iudge VVhat answer you why law should not proceed According to this euidence giuen in To taxe ye with the penalty of death Old That we are free from murders very thought And know not how the gentleman was slaine 1 Iust. How came this linnen cloth so boudy then Lady Cob. My husband hot with trauelling my lord His nose gusht out a bleeding that was it 2 Iust. But wherefore were your sharpe edgde kniues vnsheathde Lady Cob. To cut such simple victuall as we had Iudge Say we admit this answer to those articles VVhat made ye in so priuate a darke nooke So far remote from any common path As was the thicke where the dead corpes was throwne Old Iournying my lord from London from the terme Downe into Lancashire where we do dwell And what with age and trauell being faint VVe gladly sought a place where we might rest Free from resort of other passengers And so we strayed into that secret corner Iudge These are but ambages to driue of time And linger Iustice from her purposde end But who are these Enter the Constable bringing in the Irishman sir Iohn of Wrotham and Doll Const. Stay Iudgement and release those innocents For here is hee whose hand hath done the deed For which they stand indited at the barre This sauage villaine this rude Irish slaue His tongue already hath confest the fact And here is witnes to confirme as much sir Iohn Yes my good Lords no sooner had he slaine His louing master for the wealth he had But I vpon the instant met with him And what he purchacde with the losse of bloud With strokes I presently bereau'de him of Some of the which is spent the rest remaining I willingly surrender to the hands Of old sir Richard Lee as being his Beside my Lord Iudge I greet your honor With letters from my Lord of Winchester deliuers a letter Lee Is this the wolfe whose thirsty throate did drinke My deare sonnes bloud art thou the snake He cherisht yet with enuious piercing sting Assaildst him mortally foule stigmatike Thou venome of the country where thou liuedst And pestilence of this were it not that law Stands ready to reuenge thy crueltie Traitor to God thy master and to me These hands should be thy executioner Iudge Patience sir Richard Lee you shall haue iustice And he the guerdon of his base desert The fact is odious therefore take him hence And being hangde vntil the wretch be dead His body after shall be hangd in chaines Neare to the place where he did act the murder Irish. Prethee Lord shudge let me haue mine own clothes my strouces there and let me be hangd in a with after my cuntry the Irish fashion exit Iudge Go to away with him and now sir Iohn Although by you this murther came to light And therein you haue well deseru'd yet vpright law So will not haue you be excusde and quit For you did rob the Irishman by which You stand attained here of felony Beside you haue bin lewd and many yeares Led a lasciuious vnbeseeming life sir Iohn Oh but my Lord he repents sir Iohn repents he will mend Iudge In hope thereof together with the fauour My Lord of Winchester intreates for you We are content you shall be proued sir Iohn I thanke your good Lordship Iudge These other falsly here accusde and brought In perill wrongfully we in like sort Do set at liberty paying their fees Lord Po. That office if it please ye I will do For countries sake because I know them well They are my neighbours therefore of my cost Their charges shall be paide Lee. And for amends Touching the wrong vnwittingly I haue done There are a few crownes more for them to drinke giues them a purse Iudge Your kindnes merites praise sir Richard Lee So let vs hence exeunt all but Lord Powesse and Oldcastle Lord Po. But Powesse still must stay There yet remaines a part of that true loue He owes his noble friend vnsatisfide And vnperformd which first of all doth bind me To gratulate your lordships safe deliuery And then intreat that since vnlookt for thus We here are met your honor would vouchsafe To ride with me to Wales where though my power Though not to quittance those great benefites I haue receiud of you yet both my house My purse my seruants and what else I haue Are all at your command deny me not I know the Bishops hate pursues ye so As there 's no safety in abiding here Old T is true my Lord and God forgiue him for it Lord Po. Then let vs hence you shall be straight prouided Of lusty geldings and once entred VVales VVell may the Bishop hunt but spight his face He neuer more shall haue the game in chace exeunt FINIS
Do not presume to tempt them with ill words Nor suffer any meetings to be had Within your house but to the vttermost Disperse the flockes of this new gathering sect Cobham My liege if any breathe that dares come forth And say my life in any of these points Deserues th' attaindor of ignoble thoughts Here stand I crauing no remorce at all But euen the vtmost rigor may be showne Har. Let it suffice we know your loyaltie What haue you there Cob. A deed of clemencie Your Highnesse pardon for Lord Powesse life Which I did beg and you my noble Lord Of gracious fauour did vouchsafe to grant Har. But yet it is not signed with our hand Cob. Not yet my Liege one ready with pen and incke Har. The fact you say was done Not of prepensed malice but by chance Cob. Vpon mine honor so no otherwise Har. There is his pardon bid him make amends writes And cleanse his soule to God for his offence What we remit is but the bodies scourge Enter Bishop How now Lord Bishop Bishop Iustice dread Soueraigne As thou art King so graunt I may haue iustice Har. What meanes this exclamation let vs know Bish. Ah my good Lord the state 's abusde And our decrees most shamefully prophande Har. How or by whom Bish. Euen by this heretike This Iew this Traitor to your maiestie Cob. Prelate thou liest euen in thy greasie maw Or whosoeuer twits me with the name Of either traitor or of heretike Har. Forbeare I say and Bishop shew the cause From whence this late abuse hath bin deriu'de Bish. Thus mightie King by generall consent A messenger was sent to cite this Lord To make appearance in the consistorie And comming to his house a ruffian slaue One of his daily followers met the man Who knowing him to be a parator Assaults him first and after in contempt Of vs and our proceedings makes him eate The written processe parchment seale and all Whereby his maister neither was brought forth Nor we but scornd for our authoritie Har. When was this done Bish. At sixe a clocke this morning Har. And when came you to court Cob. Last night my Lord Har. By this it seemes he is not guilty of it And you haue done him wrong t' accuse him so Bish. But it was done my lord by his appointment Or else his man durst ne're haue bin so bold Har. Or else you durst be bold to interrupt And fill our eares with friuolous complaints Is this the duetie you do beare to vs Was 't not sufficient we did passe our word To send for him but you misdoubting it Or which is worse intending to forestall Our regall power must likewise summon him This sauours of Ambition not of zeale And rather proues you malice his estate Than any way that he offends the law Go to we like it not and he your officer That was imployde so much amisse herein Had his desert for being insolent Enter Huntington So Cobham when you please you may depart Cob. I humbly bid farewell vnto my liege Exit Har. Farewell what 's the newes by Huntington Hunt Sir Roger Acton and a crue my Lord Of bold seditious rebels are in Armes Intending reformation of Religion And with their Army they intend to pitch In Ficket field vnlesse they be repulst Har. So nere our presence dare they be so bold And will prowd warre and eager thirst of bloud Whom we had thought to entertaine farre off Presse forth vpon vs in our natiue boundes Must wee be forc't to hansell our sharp blades In England here which we prepar'd for France Well a Gods name be it what 's their number say Or who 's the chiefe commander of this rowt Hunt Their number is not knowne as yet my Lord But t is reported Sir Iohn Old-castle Is the chiefe man on whom they do depend Har. How the Lord Cobham Hunt Yes my gracious Lord Bish. I could haue told your maiestie as much Before he went but that I saw your Grace Was too much blinded by his flaterie Suf. Send poast my Lord to fetch him backe againe But. Traitor vnto his country how he smooth'de And seemde as innocent as Truth it selfe Har. I cannot thinke it yet he would be false But if he be no matter let him go Wee le meet both him and them vnto their wo Bish. This falls out well and at the last I hope Exeunt To see this heretike die in a rope Enter Earle of Cambridge Lord Scroope Gray and Chartres the French factor Scroop Once more my Lord of Cambridge make rehersal How you do stand intiteled to the Crowne The deeper shall we print it in our mindes And euery man the better be resolu'de When he perceiues his quarrell to be iust Cam. Then thus Lord Scroope sir Thomas Gray you Mounsieur de Chartres agent for the French This Lionell Duke of Clarence as I said Third sonne of Edward Englands King the third Had issue Phillip his sole daughter and heyre Which Phillip afterward was giuen in marriage To Edmund Mortimer the Earle of March And by him had a son cald Roger Mortimer Which Roger likewise had of his discent Edmund Roger Anne and Elianor Two daughters and two sonnes but those three Dide without issue Anne that did suruiue And now was left her fathers onely heyre My fortune was to marry being too By my grandfather of King Edwardes line So of his sirname I am calde you know Richard Plantagenet my father was Edward the Duke of Yorke and son and heyre To Edmund Langley Edward the third's first sonne Scroop So that it seemes your claime comes by your wife As lawfull heyre to Roger Mortimer The son of Edmund which did marry Phillip Daughter and heyre to Lyonell Duke of Clarence Cam. True for this Harry and his father both Harry the first as plainely doth appeare Are false intruders and vsurp the Crowne For when yong Richard was at Pomfret slaine In him the title of prince Edward dide That was the eldest of king Edwards sonnes William of Hatfield and their second brother Death in his nonage had before bereft So that my wife deriu'd from Lionell Third sonne vnto king Edward ought proceede And take possession of the Diademe Before this Harry or his father king Who fetcht their title but from Lancaster Forth of that royall line And being thus What reason i st but she should haue her right Scroope I am resolu'de our enterprise is iust Gray Harry shall die or else resigne his crowne Chart. Performe but that and Charles the king of France Shall ayde you lordes not onely with his men But send you money to maintaine your warres Fiue hundred thousand crownes he bade me proffer If you can stop but Harries voyage for France Scrope We neuer had a fitter time than now The realme in such diuision as it is Camb. Besides you must perswade ye there is due Vengeance for Richards murder which although It be defende yet will it fall at last And
this warrant doth not stretch To imprison her Bishop No turne her out of doores L. Warden and Oldcastle whisper Euen as she is and leade him to the Tower With guard enough for feare of rescuing Lady O God requite thee thou bloud-thirsty man Oldca. May it not be my Lord of Rochester Wherein haue I incurd your hate so farre That my appeale vnto the King 's denide Bish. No hate of mine but power of holy church Forbids all fauor to false heretikes Oldca. Your priuate malice more than publike power Strikes most at me but with my life it ends Harp O that I had the Bishop in that feare aside That once I had his Sumner by our selues Crom. My Lord yet graunt one sute vnto vs all That this same auncient seruing man may waite Vpon my lord his master in the Tower Bish. This old iniquitie this heretike That in contempt of our church discipline Compeld my Sumner to deuoure his processet Old Ruffian past-grace vp start schismatike Had not the King prayd vs to pardon ye Ye had fryed for it ye grizild heretike Harp Sbloud my lord Bishop ye do me wrong I am neither heretike nor puritane but of the old church I le sweare drinke ale kisse a wench go to masse eate fish all Lent and fast fridaies with cakes and wine fruite and spicerie shriue me of my old sinnes afore Easter and beginne new afore whitsontide Crom. A merie mad conceited knaue my lord Harp That knaue was simply put vpon the Bishop Bish. VVel God forgiue him and I pardon him Let him attend his master in the Tower For I in charity wish his soule no hurt Oldca God blesse my soule from such cold charitie Bish. Tooth Tower with him and when my leisure serues I will examine him of Articles Looke my lord Warden as you haue in charge The Shriue performe his office L. Ward Yes my lord Enter the Sumner with bookes Bish. VVhat bringst thou there what bookes of heresie Som. Yea my lord here 's not a latine booke No not so much as our ladies Psalter Here 's the Bible the testament the Psalmes in meter The sickemans salue the treasure of gladnesse And al in English not so much but the Almanack's English Bish. Away with them to 'th fire with them Clun Now fie vpon these vpstart heretikes Al English burne them burne them quickly Clun Harp But doe not Sumner as voule answere it for I haue there English bookes my lord that I le not part with for your Bishoppricke Beuis of Hampton Owleglasse the Frier and the Boy Ellen of Rumming Robin hood and other such godly stories which if ye burne by this flesh I le make ye drink their ashes in S. Margets ale exeunt Enter the Bishop of Rochester with his men in liuerie coates 1. Ser. Is it your honors pleasure we shal stay Or come backe in the afternoone to fetch you Bish. Now you haue brought me heere into the Tower You may go backe vnto the Porters Lodge And send for drinke or such things as you want Where if I haue occasion to imploy you I le send some officer to cal you to me Into the cittie go not I commaund you Perhaps I may haue present neede to vse you 2 We will attend your worship here without Bish. Do so I pray you 3 Come we may haue a quart of wine at the Rose at Barking I warrant you and come backe an hower before he be ready to go 1 We must hie vs then 3 Let 's away exeunt Bish. Ho M. Lieftenant Lieften. Who calls there Bish. A friend of yours Lieften. My lord of Rochester your honor 's welcome Bish. Sir here 's my warrant from the Counsell For conference with sir Iohn Old-castle Vpon some matter of great consequence Lieften. Ho sir Iohn Harp Who calls there Lieften. Harpoole tel Sir Iohn that my lord of Rochester comes from the counsell to conferre with him Harp I will sir Lief. I thinke you may as safe without suspition As any man in England as I heare For it was you most labor'd his commitment Bish. I did sir and nothing repent it I assure you Enter sir Iohn Old-castle M. Lieftenant I pray you giue vs leaue I must conferre here with sir Iohn a little Lief. With all my heart my lord Harp aside My lord be rulde by me take this occasion while t is offered and on my life your lordship shal escape Old-ca. No more I say peace lest he should suspect it Bish. Sir Iohn I am come vnto you from the lords of his highnesse most honorable counsell to know if yet you do recant your errors conforming you vnto the holy church Old-ca. My lord of Rochester on good aduise I see my error but yet vnderstand me I meane not error in the faith I hold But error in submitting to your pleasure Therefore your lordship without more to do Must be a meanes to help me to escape Bish. What meanes thou heretike Darst thou but lift thy hand against my calling sir Iohn No not to hurt yon for a thousand pound Harp Nothing but to borrow your vpper garments a little not a word more for if you do you die peace for waking the children there put them on dispatch my lord the window that goes out into the leads is sure enough I told you that before there make you ready I le conuay him after and bind him surely in the inner roome Old-ca. This is wel begun God send vs happie speed Hard shift you see men make in time of need Harpoole Harp Heere my Lord come come away Enter seruing men againe 1 I maruell that my lord should stay so long 2 He hath sent to seeke vs I dare lay my life 3 We come in good time see where he is comming Harp I beseech you good my lord of Rochester be fauorable to my lord and maister Old-ca. The inner roomes be very hot and close I do not like this ayre here in the Tower Harp His case is hard my lord you shall safely get out of the Tower but I will downe vpon them in which time get you away Old-ca. Fellow thou troublest me Harp Heare me my Lord hard vnder Islington wait you my comming I will bring my Lady ready with horses to conuay you hence Old-ca. Fellow go back againe vnto thy Lord and counsell him Harp Nay my good lord of Rochester I le bring you to S. Albons through the woods I warrant you Old-ca. Villaine away Harp Nay since I am past the Towers libertie thou part'st not so be drawes Bish. Clubbes clubs clubs 1 Murther murther murther 2 Downe with him they fight 3 A villaine traitor Harp You cowardly rogues sir Iohn escapes Enter Lieftenant and his men Lieft. Who is so bold as dare to draw a sword So neare vnto the entrance of the Tower 1 This ruffian seruant to sir Iohn Old-castle was like to haue slaine my Lord Lieft. Lay hold on him Harp Stand off if you loue your puddings
tie Host Yfaith my fellow I haue no lodging but what I keep for my guesse that I may not disapoint as for meate thou shalt haue such as there is if thou wilt lie in the barne there 's faire straw and roome enough Irishman Is thanke my mester hartily de straw is good bed for me Host Ho Robin Robin Who calls Host Shew this poore Irishman into the barne go sirra exeunt Enter carrier and Kate Club. Ho who 's within here who lookes to the horses Gods hatte here 's fine worke the hens in the manger and the hogs in the litter a bots found you all here 's a house well lookt too yvaith Kate Mas goffe Club I se very cawd Club. Get in Kate get in to fier and warme thee Club Ho Iohn Hostler Hostler What gaffer Club welcome to saint Albons How does all our friends in Lancashire Club Well God haue mercie Iohn how does Tom where 's he Hostler O Tom is gone from hence hee s at the three horse-loues at Stony-stratford how does old Dick Dunne Club Gods hatte old Dunne has bin moyerd in a slough in Brickhil-lane a plague found it yonder is such abhomination weather as neuer was seene Hostler Gods hat thiefe haue one half pecke of pease and oates more for that as I am Iohn Ostler hee has been euer as good a iade as euer traueld Club Faith well said old Iacke thou art the old lad stil Hostler Come Gaffer Club vnlode vnlode and get to supper and I le rub dunne the while Come exeunt Enter sir Iohn Old-castle and his Lady disguisde Oldca. Come Madam happily escapt here let vs sit This place is farre remote from any path And here awhile our weary limbs may rest To take refreshing free from the pursuite Of enuious Winchester Lady But where my Lord Shall we find rest for our disquiet minds There dwell vntamed thoughts that hardly stoupe To such abasement of disdained rags We were not wont to trauell thus by night Especially on foote Oldca. No matter loue Extremities admit no better choice And were it not for thee say froward time Imposde a greater taske I would esteeme it As lightly as the wind that blowes vpon vs But in thy sufferance I am doubly taskt Thou wast not wont to haue the earth thy stoole Nor the moist dewy grasse thy pillow nor Thy chamber to be the wide horrison Lady How can it seeme a trouble hauing you A partner with me in the worst I feele No gentle Lord your presence would giue ease To death it selfe should he now seaze vpon me Behold what my foresight hath vndertane heres bread and cheese a bottle For feare we faint they are but homely cates Yet saucde with hunger they may seeme as sweete As greater dainties we were wont to taste Oldca. Praise be to him whose plentie sends both this And all things else our mortall bodies need Nor scorne we this poore feeding nor the state We now are in for what is it on earth Nay vnder heauen continues at a stay Ebbes not the sea when it hath ouerflowne Flowes not darknes when the day is gone And see we not sometime the eie of heauen Dimmd with ouerflying clowdes there 's not that worke Of carefull nature or of cunning art How strong how beauteous or how rich it be But falls in time to ruine here gentle Madame In this one draught I wash my sorrow downe drinkes Lady And I incoragde with your cheerefull speech Wil do the like Oldca. Pray God poore Harpoole come If he should fall into the Bishops hands Or not remember where we bade him meete vs It were the thing of all things else that now Could breede reuolt in this new peace of mind Lady Feare not my Lord hee s witty to deuise And strong to execute a present shift Oldca. That power be stil his guide hath guided vs My drowsie eies waxe heauy earely rising Together with the trauell we haue had Make me that I could gladly take a nap Were I perswaded we might be secure Lady Let that depend on me whilst you do sleepe I le watch that no misfortune happen vs Lay then your head vpon my lap sweete Lord And boldly take your rest Oldca. I shal deare wife Be too much trouble to thee Lady Vrge not that My duty binds me and your loue commands I would I had the skil with tuned voyce To draw on sleep with some sweet melodie But imperfection and vnaptnesse too Are both repugnant feare inserts the one The other nature hath denied me vse But what talke I of meanes to purchase that Is freely hapned sleepe with gentle hand Hath shut his eie-liddes oh victorious labour How soone thy power can charme the bodies sense And now thou likewise climbst vnto my braine Making my heauy temples stoupe to thee Great God of heauen from danger keepe vs free both sleepes Enter sir Richard Lee and his men Lee. A murder closely done and in my ground Search carefully if any where it were This obscure thicket is the likeliest place seruant Sir I haue found the body stiffe with cold And mangled cruelly with many wounds Lee Looke if thou knowest him turne his body vp A lacke it is my son my sonne and heire Whom two yeares since I sent to Ireland To practise there the discipline of warre And comming home for so he wrote to me Some sauage hart some bloudy diuellish hand Either in hate or thirsting for his coyne Hath here slucde out his bloud vnhappy houre Accursed place but most inconstant fate That hadst reserude him from the bullets fire And suffered him to scape the wood-karnes fury Didst here ordaine the treasure of his life Euen here within the armes of tender peace And where security gate greatest hope To be consumde by treasons wastefull hand And what is most afflicting to my soule That this his death and murther should be wrought Without the knowledge by whose meanes t was done 2 seru. Not so sir I haue found the authors of it See where they sit and in their bloudy fistes The fatall instruments of death and sinne Lee Iust iudgement of that power whose gracious eie Loathing the sight of such a hainous fact Dazeled their senses with benumming-sleepe Till their vnhallowed treachery were knowne Awake ye monsters murderers awake Tremble for horror blush you cannot chuse Beholding this inhumane deed of yours Old What meane you sir to trouble weary soules And interrupt vs of our quiet sleepe Lee Oh diuellish can you boast vnto your selues Of quiet sleepe hauing within your hearts The guilt of murder waking that with cries Deafes the lowd thunder and sollicites heauen With more than Mandrakes shreekes for your offence Lady Old What murder you vpbraid vs wrongfully Lee Can you deny the fact see you not heere The body of my sonne by you mis-done Looke on his wounds looke on his purple hew Do we not finde you where the deede was done Were not your kniues fast closed